The Top 100 Albums of the 2000's

A list of 100 great albums from the first decade of this century. I will say these past ten years I’ve been going back 40 our so years in the catalog of rock music to find music new to me, but instead of make a list of old band and albums. I want to tell you about the music I found most important and entertaining to me from the past ten years.

Everyone know how challenging it is to make a list, cutting albums, adding one you forgot, picking a number one, picking a number 100, Well here I go.

Albums 100 thru 91

100. The Darkness – “Permission To Land” You will remember this album for their one hit, “I Believe In A Thing Called Love”, which is a throw-back to classic rock. After speculation, I decided to drop it from 79 down to 100. You are now reading this as the first album when it was originally supposed to be 79. But it would be disrespectful to the other albums 80 through 99.I sometimes feel like I need to defend the greatness of this album. I promise it is a good album beyond the one hit song. Whenever this album is played it triggers memories from me and my wife, Marie's trip from the Midwest to Utah for our fall wedding in 2003... so I suppose it holds a special spot in my life.

Key Tracks – "I Believe In A Thing Called Love", "Love Is Only A Feeling" and "Get Your Hand Off My Woman"

99. Alicia Keys – “ Songs in A Minor” "Fallin’" is one of those songs that everyone loves and knows. This is the first album from Keys, and its my favorite. At a time when R&B was topping chart and the radio with a very formulaic style, Alicia Keys took us back to classic soul.

Key Tracks - "Fallin'", "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" and "Girlfriend"







98. Cormega – “The True Meaning” Cormega is one of the most underrated east coast MCs out there. This album brings a solid delivery. Listening to this album you feel that even Cormega knows he will never make it big like his one time mentor Nas. After time their relationship soured after he was removed from the super group “The Firm” because he would not sign a production deal. If you are a true hip-hop fan this is a must have.

Key Tracks – "The Legacy", "Ain’t Gone Change" and "Love In Love Out"

97. Nelly Furtado – “Whoa, Nelly” This is a great pop album that I felt at the time was new and fresh. Her voice is unique and the production sound was a perfect fit. This album was one of the 3 or so non-hip hop albums that I was listening to in early 2000.

Key Tracks – "I’m Like a Bird", "Turn Off The Lights", and "Hey Man"

96. Kings of Convenience – “Riot On A Empty Street” This album was one of those you come across in a music shop that you've never heard of but you give it a try anyway. I found in a hole in the wall shop in Wakefield, RI. I left, got into my car for the 20 minute drive back up the coast to Newport, and listened to the calming opening track, “Homesick” and it immediately reminded me of Simon and Garfunkel. This album is why I love searching for lost gems at record shops. Its sad that our kids may not have this opportunity when they are teens and adults. SO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RECORD SHOPS FOR OUR KIDS SAKE !

Key Tracks – "Homesick", "Cayman Islands", and "Know-How"

95. Steve Earle – “The Revolution Starts Now” Its a bit of a country album, but what a country album! It’s also an amazing mix of rock, country and folk protest music. You will never hear this on CMT because Earle's topics of song writing are not the overly patriotic or sappy love songs you'd normally expect from country- but is still has a real country feel. If you like to read biographies, you need to check out his "Hardcore Troubadour"... it is quite the amazing story.

Key Tracks - "Rich Man’s War", "Condi Condi", and "Comin’ Around" feat. Emmylou Harris



94. Nas – “Lost Tapes” You can find three of Nas’ deepest cuts on this album. “Doo Rag” is a look back to his lyric story telling that not to many MCs can match up to. “Purple” tells us about the unjust treatment for the people of his community and the jealousy that runs wild among people. The best song is “Black Zombies”, he states “F black leaders/ whites ain't got none leading them”, which is a powerful and true statement. When we look back in hip hop history, it is easy to see Nas as the best lyricist ever. He may never sell as many as the others at the top of the list, but he is the best.

Key Tracks – "Black Zombies", "Purple" and "Doo Rag"

93. K’naan – “Troubadour” Hip-Hop is mixed with a touch of world music in this album. K'naan is from Somalia, Africa. This is by far the best hip-hop from a non American that I’ve heard. What makes this album so great is that he raps about what he knows and not about being tough. The first time I heard K’naan was when I saw him opening for Matisyahu this year. Unknowing to me he had a hit on the radio with “Bang, Bang” feat Adam Levine. K’naan was a better act than Matisyahu, and I’ve been a fan ever since.

Key Tracks - "Somalia", "Bang Bang", "Wavin’ Flag", and "Take a Minute"


92. Danger Mouse – “The Grey Album” You won’t find this album in stores (Does anyone go to a store to buy music still besides me?) This is a mash up of The Beatles “White Album” and Jay-Z’s “Black Album”. It is a high quality mix that's better than all other mash up artists (except Girl Talk, but we’ll get into that later.) He didn’t force the sound and that is why it is so good. I now enjoy the solo albums more after this album came out. Danger Mouse is now a promenade producer and one half of the group Gnarls Barkley. If you are interested in finding this album Google “The Grey Album, Download”.

Key Tracks - "What More Can I Say", "Encore", and "My 1st song"

91. Gorillaz – “Demon Days” English Rock fused with Hip-Hop. The thing that you can really respect about the way Gorillaz go about the mixing of these two genres is that they leave the rapping to real MCs like Del the Funky Homosapien and De La Soul.




Key Tracks – "DARE", "Feel Good Inc."* and "Dirty Harry"

(*editor's note: Take out "Feel Good Inc." and replace it with "Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head".)

Albums 90 thru 81

90. Nas – “God Son” Soul Samples and Nas go together like bread and butter. He samples Beethoven’s “Für Elise” in the track, “I Can”, which is an empowering anthem for all ages. This album is an example of how Nas can be a rapper you can hear in a fun club atmosphere, while he’s also talking about real world issues at the same time.

Key Tracks – “I Can”, “Revolutionary Warfare”, “Get Down” and “Made You Look”

89. Elliot Smith - “From The Basement On The Hill” This is amazing song writing that reached critical acclaim only after his death. After listening to this last album made before his demise, it feels like he knew he was going to take his own life after finishing. Regardless, this album is just the taste of his entire catalog.

Key Tracks – “A Fond Farewell”, “Coast To Coast” and “King’s Crossing”

88. Sufjan Stevens – “Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State” If you have never heard this artist, this is a great place to start. His arrangements make the music feel alive. His vocals are soft which makes for great contrast to the intense instrumentals. This album came out in 2003 but with songs like, “Detroit, Lift Up Your Heads! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)”, sure fit the economic land shape of 2009.

Key Tracks - “All Good Naysayer, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!”, “Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)” and “For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti

87. The Coup - “Party Music” This is totally on the radical side of Hip-Hop. With a song called “5 Million Ways To Kill A CEO” you can tell they’re a little pissed off at the Man, but the reason I like this album is because of the sound. It is a perfect west coast, bay area album. Think of the funk beat you would hear on an old “Too Short” album. If you ever want to see the most foretelling album cover, google “The Coup Party Music original albums cover”. It got pulled before it went on sale in late 2001, which is all I am going to say, so check it out!

Key Tracks – “5 Million Ways To Kill A CEO”, “Ghetto Manifesto” and “Tight”

86. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s – “It’s Blitz” The third album from this Alt-rock group finally gave them a radio hit with, “Zero”. I like it when great bands make it to the main stream because that means less time on the radio for crappy music. (*editor’s note: Creeping synths mixed with haunting vocals create the perfect sound for a truly epic album. The song’s lyrics are easy to relate to, but are presented in a way that forces you to think. This is going in my personal top 10 for sure.)

Key Tracks – “Heads Will Roll”, “Zero” and “Hysteric”

85. John Mayer – “Continuum” John Mayer is one of those artists that you either love or hate. The thing that I like about him and this album is his song writing. “Waiting For The World To Change” is a song that comes around not very often and was a statement for our times. It’s a lot like, but not on the same level as Bob Dylan’s, “Times They Are A-Changin’”. I’m sure Dylan inspired Mayer.

Key Track – “Waiting For The World To Change”, “The Heart Of Life” and “Belief”

84. The Beastie Boys - “To The 5 Boroughs” After the Beasties blow us all away with their rock sound in the 90’s, they came back with this all hip-hop album. The beats and the rhymes reaffirmed to me that these guy are hip-hop.




Key Tracks – “Che-Check It Out”, “3 The Hard Way” and “An Open Letter To NYC”

83. Bon Iver – “From Emma, Forever Ago” Where do I start? This is a sad album, but so soulful. “Skinny Lover” is a track you could just listen to over and over again. The album was written by Justin Vernon supposedly after a break-up of his band, his girlfriend and while he was fighting a sickness. The writing took place in this fathers cabin in the north woods of Wisconsin. Crazy stories make for great music.

Key Tracks – “Skinny Love”, “Flume” and “For Emma”

82. Tegan and Sara – “So Jealous” I will never forget the first time hearing these twin sisters. I was standing duty on my ship and I just took over the watch at midnight and it was going to be a long night. I turned on the tv to Late Night with Conan O’Brian and they were the musical guest. After they played “Walking With A Ghost” I was blown away. The simple cord and the catchy hook are everything a great pop song needs!

Key Tracks – “Walking With A Ghost”, “So Jealous” and “Where Does The Good Go”

81. Mos Def – “The Ecstatic” Mos Def went somewhere new with this album and you can tell when you hear him include rock and roll samples along with flavors from the middle east and around the world. It’s very original, but what else would you expect from one of the greatest artist from the last 15 years? The Ecstatic is Def’s best album since his first. Last night I caught him on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon while he performed “History” alongside Talib Kwali and the girls from The Dirty Projectors with The Roots Backing them. It was Amazing.

Key Tracks – “Casa Bay”, “History” and “Priority”

Albums 80 thru 71

80. The Black Keys – “The Big Come Up” What a cool name for an album. I came across this album at NewBury Comics in the record section and bought it just because of the cover art. It blew me away. Their sound was a stripped down blues-rock made for our times. People like to compare them to “The White Stripes”, but I think they a bit more bluesy.

Key Tracks – “I’ll Be Your Man”, “Buster” and “Breaks”

79. Ben Harper – “Both Sides Of The Gun” This is a double CD album. One is softer, while the other is electric. Harper’s vocals are howling and soulful. One of the coolest things about this album is the unique funky sound on the electric album you don’t hear on his other albums. May I suggest if you never have listened to Ben Harper before to pick up “Fight For Your Mind”.

Key Tracks – “Gather ‘Round The Stone”, “Black Rain”, “Morning Yearning” and “Waiting For You”

78. Norah Jones – “Come Away With Me” I know that you are more likely to find this on a smooth jazz station or in your parent’s CD collection. But I still like it and I will never forget seeing her live with Marie in Cleveland at an open-air amphitheater on a stormy night. It was quite an amazing show.

Key Tracks – “Don’t Know Why”, “Come Away With Me” and “I’ve Got To See You Again”

77. Passion Pit – “Manners” Great running music! This is a very up beat rock album. The lead singer’s high voice may be a little unconventional, but it works well with this style of indie rock. You can now hear them on a commercial for the Palm Pixi cell phone. It sad you have a better chance finding good music on commercials rather then on radio or TV, this suck!

Key Tracks – “Sleepyhead”, “To Kingdom Come”, “Little Secrets” and “The Reeling”

76. Ghostface Killah - “Supreme Clientele” Ghostface has always been my favorite Wu-Tang disciple. Ever since his first album “Ironman” came out, which I stole from my big brother in 7th grade, I’ve been a fan. This album is his best.



Best Tracks – “Nutmeg”, “One”, “Apollo Kids” and “Cherzchez LaGhost”

75. Adele – “19” I was truly surprised by this album. Adele is one of the many white soul singers to come out of England in the last five or so years. What makes her different is the quality of her song writing and musicianship you can hear throughout the entire album. For once I agree with The Grammy’s choice for best new artist.

Key Tracks – “Chasing Pavement”, “Best For Last” and “Right as Rain”


74. Kings Of Leon – “Only By The Night” The Kings are a band I can say I have been a fan of since their beginning way back in 2002. Oh how far they have come and how much they have grown as a band... and they have changed for the good. I’m glad to see them get the airplay for this album it is a good album and now when I talk about one of my favorite band people know who I am talking about.

Key Tracks – “Closer”, “Use Somebody” and “Sex On Fire”

73. Deltron – “Deltron 3030” This is the epitome of alternative hip-hop. You are more likely to find this CD in a skater kid’s backpack than in a jock’s gym bag. Wikipedia says that the song “Time Keeps On Slipping” was the catalyst for forming the super group “Gorillaz”.


Key Tracks – “Mastermind”, “3030” and “Things You Can Do”

72. Jack Johnson – “On And On” Who doesn’t love a little Jack Johnson? His music is so simple sounding you can’t not like it. What makes this album stand out from all his others is one song that I hold dear to me: “Cookie Jar”. It speaks to society and how no one wants to take reasonability for themselves and the way we blame others for the evils of the world. I will say this I am a sucker for music with idealistic messages.

Key Tracks – “Cookie Jar”, “Taylor” and “Gone”

71. The Raconteurs – “Broken Boy Soldiers” One of Jack White’s side projects is a deeper rock sound from the stripped down sound from The White Stripes. The first track is an instant classic. “Steady As She Goes” has a timeless rock rhythm and hook.


Key Tracks – “Steady As She Goes”, “Together” and “Level”

Albums 70 thru 61

70. TV On The Radio – “Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes” The first thing I think of when I turn on this album and that first saxophone plays is The Stooges. The Stooges stretched what people called rock music by adding different types of music to their sound. Now am not saying TVOTR sounds anything like The Stooges, but in the same spirit they changed rock with this album. And only time will show how right I am.

Key Tracks – “Staring At The Sun”, “The Wrong Way” and “Dreams”




69. The Avett Brothers – “I And Love And You” The first time I saw this album cover I was a little creeped out. But then I heard a song on KEXP (probably one of the greatest radio stations to find new music... stream it on you computer you’ll understand.) I knew I had to buy their album. So the next time I went to Easy Street there was a used copy, so it was my lucky day. They’re produced by the amazing Rick Rubin, and their sound is southern indie rock.

Key Tracks – “I And Love And You”, “January Wedding” and “Kick Drum Heart”



68. Incubus – “Morning View” Another album from early senior year. Incubus is great because instead of being a rap-rock band, they stick to rocking and then give you a little taste of hip-hop without going crazy. If you have this album go to track 13. This is how I know artistic beautiful music is still being made. Who needs the 60’s? We have our own great time for music.

Key Tracks – “Wish You Were Here”, “Nice To Know You” and “Aqueous Transmission”




67. “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” This is one of only two soundtracks I have on the list. The only reason I put it on the list is because it feels more like a concept album rather than a traditional soundtrack with a gathering of many artists. When you listen to this album you feel like you are going back in time. If you never tasted the sweet sound of bluegrass, gospel or blue, this album is a great place to start.

Key Tracks – “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow”, “Down To The River To Pray” and “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues”




66. Rilo Kiley – “Under The Blacklight” If you ever need to find an album you can play from beginning to end, this is the one. It felt like this album flew under the radar. The sound has a touch of country twang among an alternative rock sound.

Key Tracks – “Silver Lining”, “Close Call”, “15” and “Give A Little Love”

65. Erykah Badu – “New Amerykah: Part 1” This is a hip-hop soul masterpiece. Just listen to the track J-Dilla produced, “The Healer/Hip Hop”, and you will understand what I’m talking about. Erykah Badu is an amazing and unwilling to conform to the mainstream and thats what makes her so important to music.

Key Tracks – “The Healer/Hip Hop”, “Soldier” and “My People”





64. Dungen – “Ta Det Lugnt” These guys are from Sweden and best fit into “Psychedelic Rock”. But don’t let that scare you away. This album is a lot of fun. And none of it is in English.

Key Tracks – “Panda”, “Festival” and “Ta Det Lugnt”








63. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Stadium Arcadium” Who doesn’t like the Chili Peppers? You are lying if you say you don’t. I always say the Chili Peppers are our generations Rolling Stones. I got to see them live twice when they were touring this album. They performed the best stadium rock concert I’ve seen (I am swearing off any more stadium shows after being disappointed with seeing Pearl Jam at The Key). Live music is supposed to be interment.

Key Tracks – “Dani California”, “Snow (Hey Oh)” and “Slow Cheetah”



62. The Shins – “Oh, Inverted World” I will never forget the time I saw these guys live. It was in Baltimore and they where opening for The White Stripes. This ship I was stationed on was to be leaving the day of the show so I thought I wouldn’t have a chance to go, but it had engine problems and we had to stay another night so I was able to go. I had no ride, so I had to pay eighty dollars in taxi fees to get to the other side of Baltimore. I had no ticket, so I went to the sales counter and asked for one ticket and it was the third row. I was stoked to see two of my favorite bands and M. Ward was the first act as a bonus. The show was amazing.

Key Tracks – “Caring Is Creepy”, “New Slang” and “Know Your Onions”

61. Nas – “Untitled” To any true Nas fan this album will always be known as the “Ni**er” album because he was convinced to change the name before it was released. Regardless this is his most socially aware album, and his third best behind Illmatic and Stillmatic. “Hero” is one of those songs that will give you goosebumps- just listen to the lyrics.

Key Tracks – “Hero”, “Testify” and “Sly Fox”

Albums 60 thru 51

60. Ben Harper – “Lifeline” Is the album in which he should’ve hit it big with because it has everything a rock record needs: a couple of upbeat songs like “In The Colors”. I don’t know why some bands make it big and others not. This guy has it and its a shame everyone doesn’t know of him or that he gets labeled as a “jam band”.

Key Tracks – “In The Colors”, “Fight Out Of You” and “Lifeline”





59. Gnarls Barkley – “St. Elsewhere” As a fan The Goodie Mob, I always wanted to know if Cee-Lo Green would ever do anything as amazing as their first album, “Soul Food”. Well he did it as one half of Gnarls Barkley by writing the best song of the decade. “Crazy” is one of those songs you can hear on alt-rock, R&B and pop radio stations. Seeing them live was so cool in Boston. The whole band was dressed as Tennis Preps and when I saw them in Baltimore they where dressed in Roman attire.

Key Track – “Crazy”, “Gone Daddy Gone” and “Just A Thought”


58. Beck – “Sea Change” I wonder if Beck named this “Sea Change” because the sound on this album was such an abrupt change from his upbeat sound you would find on every other album of his. This album is quite depressing, but still a great one. The sound is so deep you can’t tell what instruments are being used. You feel like it is just him and his guitar.

Key Track – “The Golden Age”, “Lost Cause” and “Paper Tiger”





57. Talib Kweli – “Quality” When I first got this album I was in Ohio and and whenever I was driving I was listening to this album. This was when I started to take further notice of Kanye West. Kanye produced a couple of tracks on this album that were my favorite. In “Get By” he sample the jazz singer Nina Samone. This track is one of Kanye’s productions and Kweli’s best songs. There is a group of the best producers on this album like the late J-Dilla and the legendary west coast producer DJ Quik.

Key Tracks – “Get By”, “Put It In The Air” and “The Proud”



56. The Postal Service – “Give Up” What an incredible album. The electronic sound is mixed with lyrics written by one of the best of this generation: Ben Gibbard. Just listen to “The Distric Sleeps Alone Tonight”. The sound is original and organic.


Key Tracks – “The Distric Sleeps Alone Tonight”, “Such Great Hights” and “We Will Become Silhouettes”





55. Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks – “Real Emotional Trash” Stephen Malkmus was the lead singer of the early ’90 alt-rock band Pavement. His new band is quite good as well. This album is reminiscing to Pavement. The album really picks up half way through at “Out Of Reach”

Key Tracks – “We Can’t Help You”, “Baltimore” and “Out Of Reach”






54. John Legend – “Get Lifted” This is one of four or five real R&B albums on the list and I think I might favor this one because Kanye West produced it. “Used To Love U” really magnifies Legend’s vocals, but “Ordinary People” magnifies his writing and piano playing.

Key Tracks – “Ordinary People”, “Used To Love U” and “Number One”








53. Wale – “The Mix Tape About Nothing”/”Back To The Feature” These two albums are hip-hop hustling at it finest. Wale did his thing to get a record deal. It’s too bad that these two mixed tapes are better than his studio album that just came out. He has a couple of different songs where he samples indie artists like Peter, Bjorn and John and Duffy. The one that sticks out the most is Yaem Naim’s “New Soul”. (Which you will remember from the iPod commercials.) His lyrics are also on point. I look forward to seeing him blow up in 2010.

Key Tracks – “New Soul”, “The Bmore Club Slam”, “The Cliché ft. Lil’ Wayne”(get it “The Cliché” because Lil’ Wayne is feature on everything), “Pot of Gold”, “Nothing To Worry About”, and “Um Ricka”

52. Gorillaz – “Gorillaz” This album takes me back to the summer going into my senior year of high school before I met Marie. The sound was different from what was around at the time. Its half english rock half underground hip-hop. “Clint Eastwood” is a very catchy song we all know and Del the Funky Homosapian made it enjoyable and not just a goofy hook.

Key Track – “Clint Eastwood”, “Tomorrow Comes Today” and “5/4”




51. Amy Winehouse – “Back To Black” We all know the story about her personal life, but if you put that aside this album was pretty much perfect for a white soul singer. This is a fun album from front to back. (That is a very uncommon for me to say in this genre of music.) Was it me or did a lot of “Back To Black” sound like a Phil Spector production?

Key Tracks – “You Know That I’m No Good”, “Rehab” and “Tears Dry On Their Own”